A Tale of Two Teams: How Baseball Brought a Father and Son Together, and Apart
In the vibrant state of New Jersey, a question that divides households and sparks lively debates arises each spring: Mets or Phillies? This unique dilemma is a result of New Jersey's proximity to two major cities without its own Major League Baseball team. While North Jersey leans towards the Mets (and Yankees), South Jersey cheers for the Phillies.
However, it's the middle ground that truly fascinates. Among those caught in this divide are the McCarthys of Allentown.
"The Phillies and Mets have truly shaped our lives," Tom McCarthy, the beloved television voice of the Phillies, shared. Tom and his son, Pat, have both carved successful broadcasting careers, one with the Phillies and the other with the Mets.
Tom, a veteran broadcaster, has been the voice of the Phillies for nearly two decades. Meanwhile, Pat, in his fourth season, brings his talent to the Mets' radio broadcasts in Flushing, New York. Their journey began in New Jersey, broadcasting for the Trenton Thunder, a now-defunct Yankees Double-A affiliate.
"Patrick's first professional game was calling a Thunder game, just like mine," Tom reminisced from Clearwater, Florida, the Phillies' spring training home. "He was still in college then."
Following in His Father's Footsteps
Tom McCarthy initially thought his younger son, Tommy, would join him in the broadcast booth. Pat, too, believed this was his destiny.
"When you're young, it's easy to focus on the negatives and overlook the positives," Pat shared during a phone interview from the Mets' spring training base in Port St. Lucie, Florida. "As a kid, I noticed my dad wasn't always home for dinner or at my Little League games. That mattered to me."
Tom's absence, a sacrifice for his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball broadcaster, was a challenging aspect of their relationship. Long days and nights at the Trenton ballpark and later, on the road with the Mets and Phillies, meant missing out on family dinners and birthdays.
"I didn't fully appreciate everything my dad did until I was older," Pat admitted. "I realized his work was unique and special."
Discovering a Passion
Around the same time, Pat discovered his passion for broadcasting. In high school, he joined the TV station and took a video production class, becoming hooked on creating the morning show. Pat McCarthy's pursuit of a broadcasting career was ignited.
Conflicted Allegiances
Tom McCarthy's broadcasting career almost didn't happen. After earning his first playoff experience as a backup Phillies beat writer, he worked for the Trenton Thunder in various roles, including broadcasting. He took on other roles, too, including Princeton basketball and football, and Rutgers football, to gain experience.
"I rarely came home in a bad mood because I love what I do," Tom, a lifelong Mets fan from Brick Township, said. "If I had stayed in baseball administration, I don't know if I'd feel the same."
Tom almost took an administrative role with the newly formed Lakewood BlueClaws in 2001, but something didn't feel right. Instead, he landed a pregame and postgame radio role with the Phillies, his first big-league job.
After five years with the Phillies, Tom's big break came in 2006 when he joined the Mets' radio team with the legendary Howie Rose. It was a memorable two-year stint for both Tom and his sons.
By then, young Patrick and Tommy often accompanied their father to the ballpark, witnessing the Mets' remarkable season. They were in first place every day except one and ended the Braves' 11-year streak of NL East titles.
"That season is my earliest memory as a fan," Pat recalled. "I was in fifth or sixth grade and understood everything. It was amazing. I went to games with my dad, and my best friend's family had season tickets. It was cool."
But it ended in heartbreak. After defeating the Dodgers in the divisional round, the Mets lost to the Cardinals in seven games. The Cardinals won Game 7 at Shea Stadium, 3-1, with Yadier Molina's two-run homer in the ninth.
"What a series," Tom McCarthy said. "It was my first taste of playoff baseball, and it was addictive. You want it every year."
The Mets' heartbreak the following season came at the Phillies' hands, as they blew a seven-game lead with just 17 games left. Pat doesn't remember much, but Tom, still with the Mets, remembers it vividly.
"No one anticipated that," Tom said. "That last week was surreal. It was a rollercoaster, but being close to Philadelphia, we could feel the intensity building there too."
"We Lost Our Voice"
A few months after the collapse, Tom McCarthy returned to the Phillies, this time as a member of the TV broadcast team. The legendary Harry Kalas, Chris Wheeler, Gary Matthews, Scott Franzke, and Larry Andersen were his colleagues.
"Going back to being a Phillies fan was an easy transition," Pat said. "Even when my dad was with the Mets, the Phillies still sent him gifts at Christmas. We started going to spring training, and my brother and I were bat boys."
The Phillies' World Series win in Tom's first year back was a pinnacle moment. But April 13, 2009, is a date both McCarthys remember vividly. Harry Kalas, the Phillies' longtime voice, collapsed and died in the press box at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., hours before their game.
"We lost our voice," team president David Montgomery said.
Tom McCarthy stepped up, handling the situation with grace. Pat, unable to access Comcast SportsNet, watched the pregame show at a neighbor's house. It's been 17 years since Harry's passing, a significant part of Pat's life.
Patrick's Big-League Arrival
Pat McCarthy's college years were marked by his passion for broadcasting, just like his father. After a year at Syracuse, he transferred to The College of New Jersey, a true McCarthy family university. Younger brother Tommy, a 2018 NJAC baseball player of the year, also attended TCNJ, as did both McCarthy daughters, Maggie and Kerri.
During Pat's time at TCNJ, Tom realized his son had the talent for professional broadcasting. "I heard him call some games, and I was impressed," Tom said. The path to the big leagues is often slow and challenging. Tom didn't join the Mets' booth until he was almost 40.
"My parents supported my dream as long as I pursued it," Pat said. "I had a safety net and a girlfriend, now my wife, who was on this journey with me."
Pat worked in the Double-A Reading Phillies' broadcast booth in 2017 and then spent five seasons with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He occasionally filled in for his father in the big-league booth when Tom had NFL radio assignments.
In 2023, Pat joined the Mets for pregame and postgame radio, following in his father's footsteps. His role has expanded each year, and he'll have even more airtime this year with the legendary Rose announcing he'll only do home games in 2026.
"I love hearing that my father is a great broadcaster, and he is," Pat said. "But I love it more when they say what a great guy he is. That's what I admire most. He treats everyone the same, regardless of their role."
A Trait Passed Down
"When the Phillies and Mets play, we drive to the ballpark together," Tom said. "He's on the air longer than I am afterward, so I just watch and listen. I see how he interacts with people, and I see my dad's influence in him and all my kids. They have a lot of my father in them, and he'd be so proud."
This story is a testament to the power of baseball, bringing families together and sometimes dividing them, but always leaving a lasting impact.
